Glass fireplace screen having improved draft control



W. D. BRUNIG July 29, 1969 GLASS FIREPLACE SCREEN HAVING IMPROVED DRAFTCONTROL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 9, 1967 INVENT OR W/LL/AM 0.Bfi'll/V/G' IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIL ATTORNEY W. D. BRUNIG July 29, 1969 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9,

6 0 9 M 6 e a m Away 7 H/// ////NU:A M 1m :J 7 PM I? I 7/ 5 0 4 M 1 M6 WW 2 J V 7 V a 5 4 4- n 0 V l .2 P0 g M 7 m l o I 2 E W m Z 0 w 8 1 7 l 0no d n 7/ u M W 8 8 22 fl/ 3 WW 0 3 0 2 F L YH-Yim; 2 I g 0 w 7 1 M w 23 1 7 7 U 0 ,M/J H y w 9 F w U k 3 w M u BY JLQBQIMQ ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,457,907 GLASS FIREPLACE SCREEN HAVING IMPROVED DRAFTCONTROL William D. Brunig, Norwich, N.Y., assignor to Bennett- Ireland,Inc., Norwich, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 9, 1967, Ser.No. 637,261 Int. Cl. F24c /06, 15/10; E06b 1/04 U.S. Cl. 126-140 9Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for installation in theopening of a fireplace is described which includes a rectangularframework adapted to surround the fireplace opening and to define anopening for access into the fireplace. Mounted in the access opening isclosure means comprised of a plurality of glass or like movably mountedpanels. The

.apparatus is characterize-d by improved means for sealing the fireplaceagainst unwanted air leakage and to permit control of the draft enteringthe fireplace by means of sealing portions projecting from the frameworkadapted to abut the facing around the fireplace opening. Adjustablesealing members of generally Z-shaped configuration are provided at thesides of the framework to assure effective sealing over a range offireplace opening widths for apparatus having a framework of fixedoverall dimensions.

The invention The present invention relates to a fireplace accessory,

and more particularly to a closure device adapted to be fixedly mountedin front of the fireplace opening having two or more hinged and/orsliding glass doors and an improved structure for controlling the draftentering the fireplace. The improved structure of this invention isespecially advantageous since it permits convenient adjustability of thescreen to seal effectively, fireplaces with a moderately large range ofopening sizes.

Among the more popular fireplace accessories employed in recent yearsare the so-called glass firescreens. Such devices are characterized by arigid frame fitted against the masonry defining the fireplace openingand including suitable means for supporting two or more glass doorelements 'slidingly or pivotally mounted to provide access to theinterior of the fireplace.

Some of the reasons for the popularity of glass firescreens are thepossibility for more uniform burning of the wood or other fuel employedin the fireplace, and more uniform radiation and convection of heatthrough the glass panels than can be achieved with customary wire meshscreens. In addition, because the fireplace opening is substantiallyclosed when the fireplace is in use, the normal substantial draft drawnto the fireplace through the large fireplace opening is avoided withresulting increased comfort to those in the vicinity of the fireplace.

While the use of fireplaces and analogous structures undoubtedlypredates written history, fireplace design remains an art which issurprisingly complicated considering the relative simplicity of theresulting structure. Proper design of the internal fireplace structureand selection of proper dimensions relative to the overall size of thefireplace remains a significant factor in achieving satisfactoryoperation. Minor design errors can easily result in a fireplace in whichsmoke from the burning fuel is vented principally into the room ratherthan through the chimney.

The use of a glass firescreen completely covering the fireplace openingoffers a solution to these difficulties, but may add complications to analready complex situa- ICC tion. In fact, it has been found that animproperly designed and fitted glass firescreen may produceunsatisfactory results even in a properly designed fireplace. One of theprincipal difficulties is found to reside in properly fitting the screento seal the fireplace opening, thus to control the draft which isallowed to enter the fireplace through draft openings in the firescreen.In principle, one can design a single properly fitting glass firescreen,given the exact dimensions of the fireplace opening. However, such anapproach is practical only on a small scale, and in any event, is quitecostly. The alternative, of course, is for the dealer to stock glassscreens of many sizes or at least to provide several different sizes ofscreens having built-in adjustability to fit a range of fireplaceopenings.

While the latter is an attractive approach, previous adjustable glassfirescreens have not been completely effective in preventing unwantedair leakage or in fitting the intended range of the fireplace sizes witha satisfactorily attractive appearance. The problem is particularlyacute in the construction of glass firescreens adjustable to fitfireplace openings having a range of widths.

The present invention overcomes the above described difiiculties by theemployment of an overall rigid frame and adjustable sealing membersattached to the side portions of the frame. The sealing members are ofgenerally Z-shape, and are adapted not only to cover the rough masonryaround the fireplace opening and thereby produce an attractiveappearance for the installed glass screen, but also and moresignificantly, effectively to seal the glass frame to the fireplaceopening to prevent undesired air leakage.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved construction for a glass fireplace screen.

It is a related object of this invention to provide an improved glassfireplace screen which is adjustable to accommodate use in fireplaceshaving a variety of Widths.

It is a further related object of this invention to provide an improvedglass fireplace screen as described above, adapted to provide a coveringfor the rough masonry around the fireplace opening thereby to improvethe appearance of the installed fireplace screen.

It is another general object of this invention to provide an improvedglass fireplace screen adjustable to fit a variety of fireplace openingswhile still effective to seal the screen to the fireplace opening toprevent undesired air leakage.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide an improvedglass fireplace screen as described above having a substantially rigidouter frame and including adjustable side sealing members of generallyZ-shaped configuration for engaging the masonry of the side Walls of thefireplace opening and for effectively sealing the opening againstundesirable air leakage.

The exact nature of this invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof, will become apparent from consideration of thefollowing detailed description and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation, partially broken away, illustrating theoverall features of the improved glass fireplace screen screen of thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right hand side ofFIGURE 1, partially broken away to show the details of the construction;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross section taken along the broken line 33 inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of the lower right hand corner ofFIGURE 1, partially in section, with the portion in section taken alongline 4-4 in FIGURE 1, and with handle 54 omitted;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary front view of the lower right-handcorner of FIGURES l and 2, illustrating the improved construction of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIGURE 5 withcertain portions cut away to illustrate further details of theconstruction; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing an alternativeconstruction for portions of the apparatus shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring now particularly to the drawings, the improved glass fireplacescreen of the present invention, generally indicated at 10, comprises ahorizontal riser frame 12, at the bottom, a pair of vertical side frames14 and 16, and a horizontal top frame 18. The above elements are rigidlysecured together and attached to the masonry 19 surrounding thefireplace opening as described in detail below to provide the outerframing of the firescreen and also to support a pair of movable doors 20and 21, which open to provide access to the interior of the fireplace.

Riser 12 is comprised of a decorative facing plate 22 formed of anysuitable material, e.g., polished brass or steel. The facing plateincludes a plurality of spaced openings 24 of any desired configurationto allow unimpeded inflow of air as described hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5, riser 12 further comprises ahorizontally elongated supporting channel member 26 formed of a suitablematerial such as steel, and having a wide web portion 28 and a pair ofshort outwardly extending flanges 30 and 32 at the top and bottomrespectively. Facing plate 22 is attached to horizontal supportingchannel member 26 by means of a pair of inwardly bent flanges 34 and 36which overlie corresponding flanges 30 and 32. Flanges 30 and 34 andflanges 32 and 36 are connected together in any suitable fashion, e.g.,by welding, or by means of a plurality of spaced rivets 38 (see FIGURES24) to form a horizontally elongated draft regulation chamber generallydenoted at 39 in FIGURES 3 and 5.

Web portion 28 of horizontal supporting channel member 26 is providedwith a plurality of enlarged apertures 40 which serve as draft inlets.Draft regulation is accomplished by a rectangular plate 42 having aplurality of apertures 44 of like number and configuration as apertures40 in supporting channel web portion 28. Draft regulating plate 42 isslidably retained adjacent to Web portion 28 by a pair of horizontallyelongated retaining lugs 46 and 48 attached, as by welding, tosupporting channel web portion 28. Plate 42 is terminated at its righthand end in a short outwardly extending flange 50 (see FIGURE 2) towhich is attached, as by welding or otherwise, an elongated rod 52. Thelatter passes through a series of aligned apertures in right hand sideframe 15 and terminates in an attached control handle portion 54. Aswill be appreciated, movement of handle 54, as shown in FIGURE 2,permits selective alignment of the apertures 40 and 44 in horizontalsupport web portion 28 and draft regulating plate 42 to adjust theeffective size of the air inlets in draft regulation chamber 39. Sincethe construction to be described below substantially seals the fireplaceopening against uncontrolled air inflow, it will be appreciated thatpositioning of draft regulating plate 42 provides an easily controllableadjustment of the effective fireplace draft.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, horizontal riser 12 terminates adjacent tovertical side frames 14 and 16 and is attached thereto as describedbelow to provide a neat finished appearance for the lower corners of thefirescreen. With reference to FIGURES 4-6, side frame 16 is comprised ofa vertical channel 57 formed of brass or the like, and finished topresent an attractive appearance. Channel 57 extends upward from thefireplace hearth 56 as shown, and includes a facing plate 58 and a pairof flanges 60 and 62 extending rearwardly toward the fire- 4 place wall19. A vertically elongated insulating member 64 of rectangular crosssection, cemented or otherwise secured to outer flange 60 and to theinner surface 66 of facing plate 58, abuts the fireplace wall, as shownin FIG- URE 4, when the firescreen is installed.

Side frame 16 further includes a vertical angle member 68 having equallegs 70 and 72 with leg 70 extending outwardly from the plane of thefireplace opening and with leg 72 extending generally parallel to thefireplace opening.

Angle member 68 extends upward from hearth 56 and is secured to channel57 in any suitable fashion, as by a plurality of spaced rivets 74extending through inner flange 62 and angle member leg 70. Riser 12 isattached to side frame member 16 as by a rivet 76 extending throughhorizontal supporting channel web portion 28 and through leg 72 ofvertical angle member 68.

Side frame 16 further includes a vertically elongated sealing member 78of generally Z-shaped cross section, terminating short of the ends ofangle member 68, Sealing member 78 includes a rectangular web portion 80parallel to the fireplace opening, and a pair of oppositely extendingflanges 82 and 84 bent so as to extend toward and away from thefireplace opening, respectively.

As illustrated in FIGURE 6, sealing member web portion 80 includes apair of narrow transverse slots and 92 at the upper and lower endsthereof. Rivet 76, extending through aperture 77 in vertical anglemember leg 72 (and through horizontal supporting channel web portion 28as shown in FIGURE 3), also extends through slot 92 while a similarrivet 94 passes through an aperture 96 in leg 72 and through slot 90 tosecure sealing member 78 to side frame 26. Slots 90 and 92 are slightlywider than the diameter of the shank portions of rivets 76 and 94 sothat sealing member 78 may be slidably adjusted relative to angle member72.

Left hand side frame 14 is of substantially identical construction tothat of side frame 16 except for appropriate mirror reversal. Thus, asshown in FIGURE 3, side frame 14 includes a vertical channel 98 of whicha facing plate 100 and inner flange 102 are visible, a vertical anglemember 104, of which leg 106, parallel to the fireplace opening, isvisible, Z-shaped sealing member 108, of which inwardly extending flange1'10 is visible, as Well as other portions corresponding to thedescribed portions of side frame 16 omitted from the drawings in theinterest of simplicity. Since the above described structure and theassembly thereof is substantially identical to that previously describedin detail, no further description is deemed necessary.

As will be appreciated, firescreen 10 is installed with the web portionsof adjustable sealing members 78 and 108 abutting the fireplace otuerfacing 86. The position of sealing members 78 and 108 is then adjustedso that the inwardly extending flanges 82 and 110 engage the innersurface 88 of the fireplace opening to seal the opening tightly and togive a finished appearance to the vertical edges 99 of the masonryaround the fireplace openmg.

The use of slidably adjustable sealing members 78 and 108 permitsaccommodation of a range of fireplace widths by a single sizefirescreen. The degree of adjustability is determined by the width ofslots 90 and 92 in sealing memebr 78 and of the similar slots in sealingmember 108. Thus, while the overall transverse dimension of firescreen10 depends upon the width of riser 12 and side frames 14 and 16, themaximum width of the fireplace which can be accommodated is determinedby the distance between sealing member flanges 82 and 110 when thelatter are positioned with the innermost ends of the respectiveadjusting slots engaged with the connecting rivets, while the minimumsize fireplace that can be accommodated is determined by the distancebetween flanges 82 and 110 when the outermost ends of the adjustingslots are in contact with the connecting rivets.

Finally, the frame work of firescreen is completed by top frame member,18, illustrated in detail in FIG- URES 2-4.

Upper frame 18 extends transversely the entire width of the firescreenframework and is arranged to overlie the upper portions of side frames14 and 16 to produce a finished appearance for the structure. Upperframe 18 comprises a horizontally elongated metal front plate 112 havinga facing 114, a pair of unequal flanges 116 and 118 extending inwardlyfrom the top and bottom edges of facing 114. Attached to top flange 116is a horizontally elongated insulating member 122 cemented to the innersurface 124 thereof, adapted to abut the lintel 120 at the top of thefireplace opening. As will be appreciated, the height of the fireplaceopening, determined by the lower surface 121 of lintel 120, may besubject to some variation upward or downward as long as it does notexceed the distance from the fireplace hearth to the top of upper flange116. Preferably, however, the height of the fireplace opening is atleast about /2 inch less than the distance from the hearth to flange 116in order to assure effective control of air leakage.

As shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, facing 114 terminates at its ends in a pairof rearwardly extending flanges 126 and 128 at the right and left sides,respectively, of firescreen 10. Flanges 126 and 128 are formed in anyconvenient manner, and extend rearwardly a suflicient distance tooverlie outer flange 60 of right side channel 57 and the correspondingouter flange (not shown) of left side channel 98. If desired, theseflanges may be secured together as by welding at 129, (see FIGURE 4) onthe right hand side of firescreen 10, and at the-corresponding location(not shown) on the left side.

Disposed between facing 114 and flanges 116 and 118, is an elongatedmetal channel member 130 of generally J-shaped cross section, having anupper flange 132, a somewhat shorter lower flange 134, and a verticalweb portion 136. The outer end 138 of flange 132 is welded to the innersurface 140 of front facing panel 114. Channel 130 is also secured toside frame members 114 and 116 as by welding web portion 136 to thetransversely extending leg 72 of right hand vertical angle member 68,and to the upper end 144 of transversely extending leg 106 of left handvertical angle member 104.

Lower flange 134 of channel member 130 is vertically aligned with, orpreferably slightly above lower flange 118 of front facing 114 andterminates sufficiently short of the latter to form an air passage 146into the interior of the cavity 148 defined by facing plate 114 and J-shaped channel member 130. Web portion 136 of channel 130 includes aplurality of circular apertures 150 at spaced intervals along its lengthwhich serve as supplementary draft openings. However, it will beunderstood that air inlets 150 may be dispensed with, if desired, and ifa sufiicient draft is created when draft inlets 40 and 44 in riser 12(see FIGURES 2 and 5) are fully aligned. Similarly, supplementary draftopenings 150, while shown as relatively small circular apertures, e.g.,of approximately /2 inch diameter, may be replaced by larger or smalleropenings of any other desired configuration if necessary.

The above described structure provides the outer framework as well asthe draft control means for the improved firescreen 10 of the presentinvention. This structure is supported within the fireplace opening inany convenient fashion, but preferably in such a manner as to preventmovement which might impair the sealing efliciency. One suitablemounting structure comprises a series of L-shaped metal brackets 152(see FIGURE 3) having vertical arm portions 154 and elongated horizontalarm portions 156 secured to horizontal supporting channel web portion 28in any suitable fashion such as by screws 158. Each of supportingbrackets 152 are anchored within the fireplace as by a lag bolt 160 anda cooperating anchor 162 secured in a recess 164 in fireplace floor 159.A sufiicient number of supporting brackets 152, e.g., 3-4, is providedto anchor firescreen 10 rigidly in position within the fireplaceopening. Then, by adjustably positioning slidable sealing members 78 and108, the entire firescreen structure is rigidly secured to the walls ofthe fireplace to provide an effective air seal and an attractivefinished appearance.

The construction and attachment of fireplace doors 20 and 21 is bestillustrated in FIGURES l3, and 5. Fireplace door 20 is comprised of apair of panels 166 and 168, formed of heat resistant glass or othertransparent thermally conductive material, each surrounded byrectangular metal frames 170 and 172, respectively, connected by meansfo a vertically elongated hinge 174 disposed on the inside of the dooras illustrated in FIG- URE 1. Similarly, door 2'1 comprises a pair ofglass or like panels 176 and 178, surrounded by rectangular metal frames180 and 182, respectively, and connected by means of a verticallyelongated hinge 184. Panel frames 170, 172, 180, and 182, are comprisedof four U-shaped channels 186 of appropriate size to completely surroundeach of the glass panels, as illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 5.

Doors 20 and 2'1 are pivotally and slidably secured within the openingbetween riser 12, side frames 14 and 16, and top frame 18, by means of atop retaining channel 188, and a like bottom retaining channel 190.Retaining channel 188 includes a front flange 192, a back flange 194,and a web portion 196, while channel 190 includes a front flange 198, aback flange 200, and a web portion 202. The ends of flanges 192, 194,198, and 200 are turned inwardly upon themselves to form a series ofelongated strengthening ribs 204, 206, 208, and 210 as illustrated inFIGURES 3 and 5.

Attached at the outer ends of the top and bottom of rectangular frames170 and 182 are four like hinge pins 212 such as shown in FIGURE 5.Similarly, four guide pins 214 are secured to the top and bottom ofrectangular frames 172 and 180 at the inner ends thereof. Pins 212 and214 are retained Within channels 188 and 190 for movably supportingdoors 18 and 20. Pins 212 are positioned in shallow pivot bearings 216to prevent sliding movement of the outer ends of doors 20 and 21. Guidepins 214 are freely movable within channels 188 and 190 as shown inFIGURE 3. Thus, when doors 18 and 20 are opened, as by handles 218 and220, panels 166 and 168, and similarly panels 176 and 178, foldoutwardly toward each other to provide access to the interior of thefireplace.

The dimensions of door panels 166, 168, 176, and 178 are sufficientlylarge to clear the front flanges 192 and 198 of retaining channels 188and 190, while rear flanges 194 and 200 extend upwardly and downwardly asuflicient distance to slightly overlie the edges of the horizontalportions of the panel frames. This construction serves not only toprevent inward buckling of doors 18 and 20 with resulting strain onhinges 174 and 184, but also further to seal the fireplace openingagainst unwanted air leakage at the top and bottom. Similarly, outerdoor panels 166 and 178 are sufliciently wide to overlie thetransversely extending leg 72 and 106 of vertical angle members 68 and104, to prevent unwanted air leakage at the sides.

While the above described structure is the preferred embodiment of theimproved glass fireplace screen of the present invention, it will beunderstood that substantial modification within the scope of theinvention is contemplated. For example, in FIGURE 7, there isillustrated at 16' suitable modification of the vertical frame membersabove described embodiment, the vertical angle member 68 is removed andin its place is substituted an extended portion of flange 62 which isinwardly bent at 221 to form an additional flange 222. Flange 62 andadditional flange 222 cooperate to serve the function of legs 70 and 72respectively of angle member 68 in the above described embodiment. Thus,rivet 76, extending through an opening 224, engages with a Z-shapedsealing member 78', identical to sealing member 78. As will beappreciated, for the modified embodiment shown in FIGURE 7, a risercorresponding to riser 12 can be attached to side frame 16 in the mannerpreviously described, i.e., by means of rivet 76' (see FIGURE 4) or inany other convenient or desired manner.

Moreover, numerous other variations will be readily apparent whichprovide the desired transverse adjustability combined with control ofundesired air leakage and an attractive finished appearance over a rangeof widths for the fireplace opening.

Thus, the present embodiment is therefore considered in all respectsillustrative, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. Closure apparatus for a fireplace opening, comprising: a generallyrectangular framework having bottom, side and top members; means forrigidly securing said framework around said fireplace opening; said sidemembers including fixed supporting members, and means to minimize airleakage into said fireplace from around said closure apparatuscomprising adjustable sealing members, said sealing members comprisingvertically elongated portions adapted to engage the facing of thefireplace wall around said fireplace opening, and rearwardly dependingflanges at the inner edges thereof to engage the interior of thefireplace wall, said sealing member being slideable relative to saidfixed supporting members to adapt the same for use in fireplace openingsof a range of sizes; said bottom member including means for adjustingthe draft into the fireplace; said bottom, side and top frame memberscooperating to define an access opening to the interior of saidfireplace, and closure means mounted in said access opening comprising aplurality of thermally conductive panels adapted to be engaged to closesaid access opening, and movable to permit displacement thereof; saidframework including projecting portions cooperating with saidheat-conducting panel to minimize air leakage when said panels areengaged.

2. Fireplace closure apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each ofsaid side members is comprised of a vertically elongated facing having apair of rearwardly-depending flanges defining a recess behind saidfacing; said supporting members depending transversely from the one ofsaid flanges nearest said fireplace opening, the other of said flangesbeing of sufiicient width to terminate proximate said fireplace facingwhen said fireplace closure is properly installed; and wherein each ofsaid adjustable scaling members is formed by a Z-shaped member having aweb portion defining the portion adapted to engage the facing of saidfireplace wall, and a pair of oppositely-depending flanges, saidoppositely-depending flanges being vertically elongated and disposed atopposite sides of said web portion, said Z-shaped member being movablymounted with one of said flanges extending into said fireplace openingto engage the interior of the fireplace side wall and the other of saidflanges extending outwardly into the recess in said facing.

3. Fireplace closure apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein saidZ-shaped members include a plurality of relatively narrow transverseslots across the web portions thereof, and further including meansprojecting from said fixed supporting members and slidably engagedwithin said transverse slots to permit adjustment of the position ofsaid Z-shaped members relative to said fixed supporting members.

4. A fireplace closure as defined in claim 3 wherein said draftregulating means comprises a plate member having a plurality of spacedapertures, said apertures defining draft inlet ducts through the bottommember of said framework, and means cooperating with said plate memberfor adjustably closing said apertures to control the draft into saidfireplace.

5. A fireplace closure as defined in claim 4 wherein said means foradjustably closing said apertures comprises a further plate memberhaving a plurality of spaced apertures therein similar to the aperturesin said first plate member, means for slidingly supporting said furtherplate member adjacent said first plate member and means attached to saidfurther plate member for varying the degree of alignment between theapertures in said two plate members to vary the effective size of thedraft inlets.

6. A fireplace closure as defined in claim 1 further including first andsecond horizontally elongated retaining channels secured to said bottomand said top frame members respectively, said channel members includingweb portions abutting said bottom and said top frame members, andunequal vertically depending flanges, the ones of said flanges closestto the interior of said fireplace being wider than the exterior ones ofsaid flanges, and wherein said closure means includes a plurality ofsupporting pins projecting from the bottom and top of each said closurepanels, said pins being received within said retaining channels, saidwider ones of said retaining channel flanges overlying the backs of saidclosure panels to reduce air leakage.

7. Fireplace closure apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein each saidside member includes a vertically elongated channel member having a webportion and flange portions depending toward said fireplace wall, theouter of said flange portions abutting said wall, and the inner of saidflange portions defining the sides of said access opening, and whereinsaid supporting members comprise angle members having first legs securedto the inner ones of said' channel member flange portions and secondlegs secured to said sealing members, said second legs and said sealingmembers slightly overlying the sides of said closure means to minimizeair leakage when said closure panels are engaged.

8. Fireplace closure apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein saidsealing members include a plurality of transverse slots, and whereinsaid second legs include a plurality of means projecting therefrom, andpassing through said slots, the ends of said projecting means includingmeans for permanently securing said sealing members to said supportingmembers, said slots being slightly oversize relative to said projectingmeans to permit transverse movement of said sealing means with respectto said angle members.

9. Fireplace closure apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said bottommember, said sealing members, and said angle members are permanentlysecured together by said means projecting from said second leg.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,374 11/1908 Taylor 1261392,707,946 5/1955 Merryweather et al. 126l40 2,939,450 6/1960 Rubens126140 3,162,188 12/1964 Tompers 126-140 FREDERICK KETTERER, PrimaryExaminer U.S. Cl. X.R.

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer UNITED S'PA'IIEFIS lli'ifiilf'?C FFU T "fijj-TT! E" f If '7" r" I! E I JijJ i1 I i 1J1"? L (.J' L A L L)31 \J i 1 Q 1221 cut 750 1 :1. 1 July 2 9 196 Inventowfs) W. D. Bru n ig It is certified that error appears in the above-ixientifivd puLm-t;and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrcwlud as show-3n helm-1:

Col 2 line 63, "screen screen" should read --screen--.

Col. 3, line 54, "frame 15" should read --frame l6-- Col. 4, line 64,"memebr" should read --member Col. 6, line 14, "f0" should read 4-of--.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of November 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

RENE D. TEGTMEYER Acting Commissioner of Patents

